They Said a 5-Star Hotel Would Never Work in Nairobi. So He Founded Tribe and Proved Them Wrong

What would possess two brothers — with no hospitality background — to open a luxury hotel in a city where no new hotel had been built in three decades?
In a word: vision.

In this episode, I sit down with Shamim Ehsani, co-founder of Tribe Hotel and one of the most intentional hoteliers I’ve ever met. What started as a need for a conveniently located place for business travelers became something much bigger — a cultural reset for what luxury means in Kenya.

We dive into:

• Why Tribe wasn’t designed to mimic what was trendy abroad — but to reflect the energy of modern Nairobi
• How art, music, fashion, and food became the foundation of the brand’s identity
• The unexpected call from Design Hotels — after they initially said “not interested”
• What today’s travelers actually want, and how his team is designing for access, not just aesthetics

This episode is a masterclass in designing hotels with soul — and staying true to your vision when everyone else is playing it safe.

 

Connect with Shamim on LinkedIn

 

Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world’s top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more.

Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we’d love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.